Workshop Development #72: Building tools in the shop to build the shop...

So I spent more quality time than I care for last night with a drywall sander, and I got most of the bumps knocked down, that is at least until I got to the corner by the overhead door track… The space between the track, and the abutting wall is simply too narrow to fit the drywall sander in…

Time to get creative…

I know!

Cut down a piece of 3/4” plywood scrap to 2.5” x 8”. With the scroll saw (Because the band saw is still buried) cut out a quickie handle, drill, countersink, attach and voila, funky sanding block. Simply quarter a sheet of 40 grit the narrow way, and using 3M Super 77 spray adhesive, glue one strip on and let it bond… Then get to town!

Okay so not the ideal sander, but it works. I have a little bit left to get to tonight / this weekend, and then it’s on to taping / final mudding / sanding and finally, prime, paint, and reattach the face plates on the outlets.

This drywall job will NOT be coming out perfectly. I never expected it to. If I did, I would have hired someone else to have the ulcer instead of me! But it IS coming out more or less as I expect, I could get away with the little imperfections I see if I were texturing it. I have much worse in the living room after all!

LOML is starting to get funky / sick so tonight I am making Caldo De Pollo for her (Mexican Chicken soup with vegetables…) and I put her to bed and get to the shop, so I might just be able to get this done this weekend after all… I am debating if I want to roll the paint on, or spray it. Roller would give a thicker coat, but spraying would mean the job would be done in next to no time… Ugh, choices…

I found a design online for a short 4×8 foot 4 foot tall storage locker. Not a bad idea, I checked with the city, they don’t consider it a building if it..

#1. Doesn’t have a foundation.
#2. Has a top height of less than 7’.
#3. Has a floor surface of less than 100 sq/ft.

My HOA might fuss, but considering my plan they won’t have much room to complain. My idea is to build it with a 6’ interior height, and build it on TOP of my existing deck. We do not use the deck, and there are no regulations regarding deck boxes.

I have been toying with it in sketchup, and I believe I can get all of my lawn and garden equipment / materials / non shop stuff into that space including my New Braunfels Bandera smoker. (Need some work done to that, going to talk to my BIL about getting some metal parts made up for it)... Things are looking good!

3 comments so far

Sorry for the late response, but I have been busy with organizing and wanted to get it done.

OK, the sanding block sounds like me. I went to Lowe’s with a huge laundry list of bolts, screws, sanding blocks, etc. I spent two hours putting it together so that I would have some selection of hardware. Got another trash can for the shop (meaning here in La Conner), and when I left the store everything was in the trash can. That was two days ago. Today I got most of the stuff put in parts cabinets, plastic stuff from Lowe’s, and then I put French cleat on the wall for them above some pegboard so that I can take them down to work on them on the bench if I want to. Done with that, except for installing the reverse cleat on the parts cabinets. I labeled everything with a Brother label maker, wireless no less, using my computer, and that was slick.

But, looking for sanding blocks (I bought two, I keep one loaded coarse, one fine), I noticed these 3M sanding sponges or what ever they call them. Every tried one of those?? I didn’t buy any, but they would have fit in that narrow space. I would have done would you did.

Yup, I get it, a six foot high outdoor closet on an unused deck, painted to match….....it will definitely look suspiciously like an outhouse for short people. Put a moon cutout on the door, might as well make use of the obvious….......(-:

Actually, it sounds like an excellent solution. Just don’t paint it the same color as the local purveyor of porta potties uses…......(-:

Gad zooks, going home day after tomorrow. Next trip down here will be for two weeks, and that will not be enough. It was cold out today, hovering around 38 degrees all day, and Sherie was out trying to lay down blood meal and landscaping fabric to keep the cats from marking the territory (feral cats abound here). First volley in controlling the cats and dogs when we are not here.

Well, I set up some power tools, including the Rigid spindle-belt sander, and a cheap Shop Fox drill press. Not like my small Delta at home, which is bigger and better, but I used it, and it does the job. I didn’t want anything too heavy since it will be mobile, and I couldn’t find the in between size that the Delta I have is. I still haven’t put the levelers on the torsion box bench pedestals, I am half way there. Never enough time. However, the pedestals are very generous size, intentionally, and work as very stable work surfaces all on their own. I will post them, I wanted to do it this trip, but I suspect it will be next.

Will try the new Italian restaurant in town. The location is perfect, but no one has ever made a go of it for long there. The only way to do it is to be something really special or unique. We will see.

Well, the wall is mostly in tape right now. The seam between the wall and ceiling has yet to be done, and that stubborn corner. I flaked out on making my sander yet… I got done with the other taping and mostly said, eh… I am done for the day…

The Grizzly G0572 is being worked well beyond it’s designed capacity I am sure. I have the PSI filters in it, and by the time all the sanding and cleanup is done, I am sure the filters will need to be cleaned.

I am genuinely not enjoying that door wall though. What a pitiful setup. It’s also one of the reasons I hate my garage. Most garages I have seen outside of my neighborhood have at least 3’ on each side of the doors. Mine is lucky to have 6”... What a frustration for sure!

I do think my 3M respirator needs me to get up off my butt and swap the cartridges for fresh ones… I am not sure how often you are supposed to change them, but they are getting noticeably darker…

I have the respirator at home as well, but don’t have to use it very often. Mostly because I don’t generate that kind of dust very often. Good idea to use it, though, all that black stuff would be in your lungs.

Well, tomorrow is clean up day, but then we go out to the fancy restaurant tomorrow night. Our self indulgent reward. I hope to get up the parts cabinets tomorrow, and if I am really energetic, maybe finally get the levelers on the torsion bench. But I bet I don’t. It always takes 3 times as long as I think it will.